Heel-building machine



L. A. HOLMAN HEEL BUILDING MACHINE March 2 1926.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed August 29, 1921 INVENTOR. Les/l6 A f/a/maw A TTONE Y.

Mai-ch 2 1926. 1,574,891

L. A. HOLMAN HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed August 29. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 z '58 F/6.9 4/ E v 59 3 I INVENTOIIQ.

[es/1e 19. flo/man v A TTORNEY.

March 2 1926.

- 1,574,891 L..A. HOLMAN HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed August 29. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet s I N VEN TOR.

v ZeS/ie 0 J ATTORNEY.

March 2 9 1926. 1,574,891

' L. A. HOLMAN HEEL BUILDI NG MACHINE Filed August 29. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Z. ES/f i 6 0/1772 ATTOR Y.

March 2 1926. 1,574,891

I... A. HOLMAN HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Filed August 29. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 5 4 w My w [es/[e 16 lid/map Patented Mar. Z, 192%.

isvesei LESLIE A. HOLMARWQF WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-BUILDING MACHINE.

Application filed August 29, 1921. Serial. No. 496,201.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LnsLin A. HOLMAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of the city of Waltham, in the State of Massachusetts, and United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel-Building Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

"This invention relates to heel building machines and more particularly to that type of machine in which lifts of various shapes and sizes and of different material may be assembled and fastened together to form heels. v

The main object of the invention is the provision of a machine which is simple both in construction and operation, yet durable and efficient.

A further object is the provision of a machine so constructed that it may be operated oiiiciently at a high speed without strain or vibration.

A still further object is to provide a machine which may be continuous in its action, thus eliminating strains and vibrations inci' dent to frequently stopping and starting various parts of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine capable of handling all kinds and varieties of lifts wit-h a minimum of adjustments, and having provision for automatically adjusting itself in most respects to all kinds of lifts, both as to shape, size and condition, in order to avoid numerous and complicated adjustments, when changin from one size of heel to another and to save time, and also to enable the machine to deal with imperfect or warped lifts.

An additional object is the provision of a gluing mechanism which is clean and efficient and by means of which the glue may be applied to the lifts in their passage through the machine without interfering with the operation thereof or reducingthe speed, and which may, at the will of the operator, be thrown into or out of operation in whole or in part.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine so constructed that its various parts are accessible for observation throughout its operations, thereby enabling the operator to correct immediately upon occurrence any mistakes in the functioning of the machine before they result in imperteetly finished h ls.

Still another object is to provide a machine which may be continuously supplied with lifts while in operation.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

One of the most important features of my invention consists in providing assembling means which operates always in one direction, that is, is unidirectional. The use of such means has many advantages. In the first place, it enables the'machine to be balanced and to be operated at a high speed without vibration, jars or noise which are incidental to means having, for instance, reciprocating movements. In the second place, the unidirectional character of the means permits the speed of the machine to be varied to suit different conditions and yet run at a very high rate of speed when required. In the third place, it conduces to economy of construction and simplicity and efliciency of operation. 7

Another important feature of my invention resides in the means employed for applying adhesive to the lifts in their progress through the machine. In the first place, the gluing means is so arranged that it may be moved in whole or in part from an operative to an inoperative position, or vice versa at the will of the operator, during the operation of the machine and without interfering therewith. Secondly, the gluing means is so arranged that the adhesive is applied to the surface of the lift, while it is in a substan tially vertical position in its passage through the machine, so that any surplus glue or adhesive may fall into a suitable receptacle arranged below the lift while in that position. In view of these facts and of the ad: ditional fact that the glued portion of the lift does not come into contact with any part or parts of the machine between the gluing operation and the depositing of the lift in a heel pile, the machine can be kept absolutely clean and free from any accumulation of glue or adhesive.

Another important feature of my invention resides in the formrof means employed for justifying of shaping the heel just before it is nailed, which means is made resilient and flexible in order to take care automatioally of any variations in the size and shape of the heels being made by the ma chine. r v

My iaies iee contempla es is s e ferred form, a machine made up of a plurality of units, each unit comprising a magazine, a transferring or transporting element and a gluing device, in combination with aconveyor, a justifier and nailing device. The machine may be adapted for building different sized heels, or heels made up of a different number of lifts, by increasing or decreasing the number of units in operation. It is to be understood, of course, that some of the aforementioned elements may be omitted, such, for instance, as the gluing means, and the nailing means relied upon alone for securing the lifts of the heel in assembled form.

Briefly described the machine illustrated in the drawings herein and described hereinafter, which is merely one embodiment of the invention, comprises a base carrying a framework upon which a series of lift magazines are mounted and arranged to deliver lifts' to an equal number of transferring elements, which transport lifts from the magazines to a conveyor mounted on the base. The transferring means and conveyor are preferably continuously moving at such relative speed and direction that a lift deposited on the conveyor from one transferring device receives upon it a lift from the next transferring device and so on until lifts sutiicient to form a complete heel have been assembled in a pile on the conveyor. A gluing device is provided to apply glue. to the lifts, preferably during the transit between magazines and conveyor. hen a lift pile has been completed, a justifying device advances automatically into engagement with the lifts and brings them all into proper registerwith one another and also holds the lifts while they are nailed together by a suitable automatically operated nailing device. he justifying device then retreats, leaving the completed heel on the conveyor for transport to a discharge point.

The manner in which the previously outlined objecls, as well as various other subsidiary objects, are accomplished will be ascertained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the invention and of which Fig. 7 is a View similar to Figure (i show.-

ing the mechanism in heel justifying position.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, ure 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a magazine gate showing a magazine end and a lift therein.

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating diagrammatically an alternative means for transferring lifts from magazines to conveyor.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View of a lift box shown in Figure 10.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 21 designates a base or table supported in any suitable-manner and carrying toward its ends a pair of upright frames 22 which are connected at their upper ends by a bar 23. A main driving shaft 24: is journalled in the frames 22 and carries a pulley 25 or other means to communicate with a source of power. This shaft drives by gearing s6, or otherwise, a second shaft 27. The main shaft 24 has driving connection of any suitable sort, as indicated at 28, with a shaft 29 located under the table and toward one end thereof and at right angles to the shaft 24. A. second similar shaft 30 is mounted. under the opposite end of the table. These shafts 29 and 30 carry sprocket wheels 31 of any suitable type, over which an endless chain 32 runs. The term chain is used merely as indicating a jointed structure. The chain composed of a series of hingedly connected platforms or links 33, each of a size to receive thereon flatwise a heel lift. Each link carries at one edge, preferably the front, a breast plate 3-1. The shafts 29 and 30 are so disposed that one half of the chain runs over the table and the other half runs under the table, as cle arly shown in Figure 1, the uppenhalf of the chain or conveyor being supported on rails on the top of the table with a view to reducing friction and also to holding the chain exactly in predetermined position. For this purpose, the lower sides of the links 33 may be suitably grooved, as at 36, to receive the rails. The sprockets 31 and rails 35 are preferably so disposed that the upper part of the chain runs exactly under the shaft 27 and parallel therewith, but it will be understood that if desired the chain may be located either in front or in rear of the vertical plane containing the shaft and not necessarily in parallelism with the shaft. I

A plurality of magazine gates, each designated as a whole by the numeral 37, a e mounted on the rail 23, the same centre to centre distance apart as the links Each device for transferring lifts from the mag azinc gate to the conveyor is designated as a whole by the numeral 33 and hereafter referred to as the transferrer. There is a separate transferrer for each magazine gate. all the transferrers being mounted on the shaft 27 to perate in unison- The transferrers are centered one under each magazine gate and therefore have the same centre to centre spacing as the conveyor links; Each gate is adapted to receive and support the lower end of a magazine 39, the rear or upper ends of the magazines being supported on a frame suitably connected to the frames 22.

Each magazine gate as illustrated coinprises a rectangular ring 41 open at top and bottom and connected at its rear edge to the rail 23. Preferably the rear wall of this rin is not as deep as the front wall and the two walls converge slightly toward their lower edges. The side walls will then taper in depth from front to rear, but it will be understood that this is largely a matter of.

design. The dimensions of the opening in the gate are such that the largest lift to be handled will pass freely fiatwise through the gate. The front wall of the gate carries an extei'iorly disposed spring finger 42 secured at its upper end to the gate and having its lower end disposed ashort distance in advance of the gate and in position to retain control of lifts after the same have left the gate. The gate front also carries toward its vertical edges a pair of fingers 43 pivotally mounted at their upper ends and depending at their lower ends below the gate front, so as to engage the edges of lifts emerging from the gate. These fingers may be urged toward one another by springs 4a of any suitable form and disposition. Obviously other forms of gates may be applied.

Each transferrer preferably comprises a pair of substantially flat circular plates 4:5 held in spaced relation by a centrally dis posed hub 46 to which they are connected and which serves to rigidly mount them on the shaft 27. These plates are ofsuch diameter that they clear the bottom edges of the magazine gate by a small amount. These plates may be held rigidly in parallel planes by. any suitable number of connecting bolts l? provided if necessary with distance pieces 48 between the plates. The spacing between the discs is such that any size of heel lift within the capacity of the machine may rest securely on the edges of the two discs forming each transferrer. The peripheries of the discs are slightly flattened at regularly spaced intervals, as indicated at 49, to provide lift seats. At the rear end of each fiat or seat 49 a tooth 50 is inserted in any suitable manner. The upper end of each tooth projects slightly beyond the periphery of the disc, the amount of projection being sub stantially equal to the thickness of a heel lift and theprojecting portion being forwardly inclined. Spring fingers 51 are mounted on the outer sides of the plates 45 in substantially radial arrangement and terminate about midway of the length ofthe seats 49. These fingers extend to or slightly beyond the circular peripheral lines of the 7 against the plates, so that the extremities of the fingers project slightly above the seats and are thus enabled to engage the edges of heel lifts on the seats- The fingers are to be regarded as in pairs, as shown in Figure 4t and normally lie flat against the plates but are in,- tended to be flexed away from the plates to receive a lift between the fingers of each pair. In order to; separate the fingers of each pair to receive between them a heel lift, each finger is provided with a stud 52 projecting through an aperture 53 in the plate which carries it, the studs being arranged in a circular row concentric with the shaft 27 and the studs of each finger pair being in alignment. A cam member 54, sharpened at both ends, is rigidly mounted between the plates of each transferrer in the path of the studs by means of a bracket 55 connected to the rail 23. e The sharpened ends of the cam enable it to gradually and easily separate the studs as they pass it and thus force the fingers away from the plates and in the same manner to allow the fingers to approach one another gradually and thus gently grip a lift. The studs 52 may serve also to hold the fingers in proper radial arrangement.

The magazines may be of any suitable type. One which has been found satisfactory comprises a trough or channel-shaped structure 56 normally supported by the gate and rail 40 at an angle of about 20 to the horizontal. At the lower or forward end of the magazine the sides project forwardly beyond the bottom as shown at 57 and the forward edges of the side parts are formed to rest against the gate front wall. The forward end of the magazine bottom downwardly turned as at 58 and formed to lie gate rear wall. Thus the forward end of the magazine will fit snugly between the converging front and rear walls of the gate and be held against forward or rearward movement, while at the same time it may be readily removed by upward movement. The forward end of the magazine is centered between the side walls of the gate by any suitable means such as external ribs 59 shown in Figure 9. The bottom of the magazine projects slightly below the lower edge of the back wall of the gate, as clearly shown in Figure 3, so as to lie substantially in the circular peripheral line of the transferrer. Notches 60 may be povided in this portion of the magazine to permit passage of the teeth 50. At the ei'trerg e front end the magazine is open at adjacent lower edges of the side extensions 5?, so that there is nothing to obstruct the clearance between the lower edge of the gate front and the periphery of the transferrer,through which clearance lifts pests from the gate. The magazine may be held in the gate solely by the actienef gravity and '...1Quii tilt ployment of latc-hes or the like, so that an empty magazine may be removed and a full one inserted by a simple vertical movement. For simplicity of manufacture the gates are preferably all of one size on a machine. As the lifts differ in size it is necessary to make the magazines of various sizes according to the lifts. The ribs 59 therefore project different distances from different sizes of magazines, so that the width across the ribs will be the same in all magazines and any magazine may be accomn'iodated and accurat'ely centered in any gate. This feature avoids adjustments of gates when changing from one size series of lifts to another, a change of magazines being all that is necessary. As previously stated, the transferrer discs are so spaced as to securely seat any size of lift in the capacity of the machine, so that no adjustment. is necessary at this point when changing sizes.

In order to release the lifts when they have been transported to a position over the conveyor, a series of cams 61 are provided over the conveyor and between the plates of the transferrers in the paths of the studs 52. These cams are carried by arms 62 adjustably mounted in arail (not shown) carried by the frames 22 or otherwise. The cams 61 are pointed at the ends first engaged by the studs but, as there is no necessity for releasing the fingers 51 gently, the opposite ends of the cams need not taper.

As the lifts might adhere slightly to one finger or the other and thus drop edgewise or in some other imperfect manner on the conveyor, it is advisable to provide means controlling the fall of lifts from the transferrers to the conveyor. This means comprises a shaft 63 mounted inbearings on the base 21 or frames 22 and carrying a plurality of rotatably mounted fingers 64 projecting between the plates of each transferrer under the cams 61 and in position to engage above an inverted lift. Each of these fingers or shedders 64: is formed with a shoulder 65 positioned to be engaged by a. dog or driver (56 adjustably mounted on the shaft to impart shaft rotation in one direction to the shedders but designed to leave the shedders free to rotate independently of the shaft in the opposite direction. The arrangement is such that the dogs may raise the shedders and hold the same elevated or may leave the shedders free to drop. To rotate the shaft 63 for the purpose of raising or releasing the shedders, an arm 67 is rigidly connected to the shaft and engages a cam 68 mounted on a shaft 69 suitably driven, as by gears 70, from the main shaft 24. A spring 71 is con nected between the arm 67 and any suitable part to hold the arm against the cam and ensure desired movement of the shaft. The setting of the cam 68 is such that the shedders are released to rest upon the lowermost lifts in the transferrers just before the spring fingers holding these lifts are released by engagement with the cams 61. The shedder fingers are thus free to fall with the lifts and hold the same against overturning. Preferably the cam rotates the shaft 63 to raise the shedders as soon as the lifts are fully down on the conveyor. These shedder fingers also serve to lightly press the deposited lifts.doWn on the piles of lifts on the conveyor, so that glue which has been applied to the lifts (in the manner hereafter described) is enabled to take hold of the previously deposed lifts to a greater extent than would be possible if the lifts merely fell of their own weight.

While the lifts are deposited theoretically in orderly piles on the conveyor, in each of which piles the lifts are in proper register with one another, it frequently happens that one or more lifts of a pile are slightly out of place, due largely to the mechanical impossibility of depositing the lifts close against the breast plates 34. In order to properly arrange the lifts in register prior to nailing, a justifying device, designated as a whole by the numeral 72, is provided at the right hand end of the machine. This device is preferably mounted in alignment with the nailing device 73, as clearly shown in Figure 1. The justifying device comprises a guide 74 attached to the base 21 and carrying a slide 75 movable at right angles to the shaft 2%. The slide carries a pair of arms 76 pivoted at their rear ends and provided with locking screws 77 to clamp them to the slide in any desired adjustment. These arms are so formed or disposed attheir forward ends that the space between them is greater than the width of the heel pile, so that upon forward movement of the slid-e the arms may embrace a heel pile. Each arm has pivoted to its forward end a vertically disposed plate 78, the attachment being effected by a horizon tal lug 7 9 on the back of the plate. This plate carries spaced forwardly projecting flanges 80 and 81, the flanges 80 at the adjacent ends of the plates being preferably disposed at acute angles to the plates, so that when the plates are in their normal position, as shown in Figure 6, the flanges 80 are ap proximately parallel and present their free edges to the front of the machine. The flanges 81 are preferably disposed substantially at right angles to the plates. The plates 78 are connected, for example, to the arms carrying them, by springs 82 operating to hold the plates normally at an obtuse angle to one another and with the flanges 80 thereof spaced a less distance apart than the width of a heel lift and the flanges 81 spaced a much greater distance apart than the width of a heel lift. The free edges of the flanges S0 and S1 areshaped according to the shape of the heel which is to be built, the flanges 81 having the slope of the heel sides and the flanges having the slope of the heel back. The slide 75 is provided with a lug or post 83 positioned to be engaged by a cam as on theshaft 69, for the purpose of retracting the slide and holding the same retracted, that is, in the position shown in Figure 6. A suitable spring 85 is provided to drive the slide forwardly when released by the cam.

The gluing device may be of many forms, but the form illustrated has been found particularly simple and efficient. A shaft 86 extends across the front of the machine, be ing rotatably supported by the frames 22. This shaft carries in front of each transferrer a shallow, trough-like dauber 87 sharplyinclined as shown in Figure 3 and adapted to bear at their lower ends against lifts on the transferrers. The rotation of the shaft 86 to bring the dauber into or out of engagement with heel lifts on the transferrers is effected by means of a tracker arm 88 fixedto the shaft and engaging a cam 89 on the transferrer shaft 27, with which cam the lever 88 is held in engagement by a spring 90 connected, conveniently, to a frame 22. The cam 89 is a circular disc having a plurality of regularly spaced notches 91 equal in number to the number of lift seats on each transferrer. The length of these notches 91 is such that the danbers 87 do not engage the full length of the heel lifts but only a part of the length thereof and the cam is set i such relation to the transferrers that the portions of the lifts engaged by the daubers occurs midway between the backs and breast edges of the lifts. A pump 92 is provided to draw glue from any suitable source and force the samethrough a pipe 9 1- entending across the front of the machine above the daubers87. A small stop cock 95 depends from the pipe 94 directly above each dauber, so that glue may escape from the pipe in regulated amount onto each dauber. A trough 96 is mounted on the base 21 under all daubers 87 and is adapted to receive surplus glue, which may return to a reservoir through a drain pipe 97. The rear wall or edgeor the trough carries a plurality of resilient wipers 98 adapted to engage lifts on the transferrers to uniformly distribute glue thereon and also to scrape off any surplus glue. Any surplus glue runs down the wipers 98 and into the trough, as will be readily under-: stood from Figure 3. In order that the gluing of lifts on any transferrer may be avoided if desired, the daubers 87 are adjustably mounted on the shaft 86 by means of set screws 99, or other suitable means. which ill permit any dauber to be moved and held out of lift engaging position. This also enables the daubers to be adjusted according to the thickness of the glue and to regulate the amount to be applied to the lifts.

A cam 100 or other suitable means is mounted on the shaft 69 to control the operation of the nailer 73. The'nailer may be driven by or independently of the building machine.

it will be'noted in Figure 1 that the lifts on the transferrers are arrangedin straight rows across the machine, indicating thatthe lifts are removed from all magazines simulaneously, but this arrangement is not essential and may be altered.

In the form already described, the transferrers have been shown as of the rotating disc type. The same effect may be pro-' duced ly substituting an endless belt 101 shown in Figure 10. This belt may be of any suitable construction and provided at suitable intervals with lift boxes 102 which form the lift seats. A separate belt may be provided for each magazine andany suitable number of boxes mounted thereon or one belt may serve for all. Each box comprise a seat plate 103 beveled atits leading edge 10% to avoid all possibility of lifts catching on the front edge of the box. The plate is provided with a flange 105 at the sides and one end, the flange being of aheight approximately equal to'the thickness of a single lift. The dimensions of the box are such that it will receive any'size of lift within the 'apacity of the machine. In order to hold liftsin the box, flat springs 106 are attachedto the opposite side walls of the box and project inwardly over the plate 103. One 'of the rollers 10?, over which the belt passes, may serve as a driving sprocket and, for this purpose, be notched .to receive pro yections 168 from the belt. These projections may conveniently be the same members which attach thelift'boxes 102. The sprockets 107 of all belts are mounted on a shaft 109 corresponding to the shaft 27. Lifts may be removed from the hones by mechanism similar to that already described. Gluing may be effected in the manner already described or many other suitable manner.

The operation of the device is as follows 2 lilagazinesof sizes suitable for theheel to be built are filled with lifts, each magazine containing lifts of a different size from those in other magazines, if the shape of the heel to be built so requires. The magazines are then placed on the machine withtheir forward ends in the gates and their rear ends supported on the rail 40, the magazine containing the largest lifts being at the left hand end of the machine and the magazine containing the smallest lifts at the right hand end for a machine as illustrated in which the'eonveyor moves from left to right, the sizes of lifts in the intervening magazines varying as required. It will be noted that the bottom of each magazine bends downwardly where it enters the gate, so that the lifts swing through the arc of a circle in passing the corner thus formed, as indicated in Figure 3. This feature makes it possible for the magazine to feed wedge lifts in their most natural path and avoids any tendency to cramp and bind. The lowermost lift in each magazine rests upon the transferrer under that magazine and is held against removal from the magazine due to frictional engagement with the transferrer by the fingers 42 and 43. The transferrers rotate in the direction of the arrow, Figures 1 and 3, i. e., forwardly at the top, and the teeth thereof pass into the gates from the rear through the notches (30 and engage the straight or breast edges of the bottom lifts, so as to drive the same forwardly out of the magazines. The teeth 50 being at the rear ends of the seats 49, the lifts will lie securely on the seats and cannot be rocked out of engagement with the teeth, as would be the case if the transferreredges were circular throughout their peripheries. The spring fingers 42 hold the lifts securely down on the transferrers as they are being removed from the magazines or gates. As the lifts are pressed forwardly out of the gates by the transferrers they pass between the lower ends of the pairs of spring pressed fingers 43, which operate to centre the lifts on the transferrers. As vacant seats on the transferrers come up to the magazines, the spring fingers 51 on opposite sides of the vacant seats are separated by the studs 52 thereof engaging the stationary cams 54. This separation of the fingers enables lifts to be brought into proper position on the seats without interference from the fingers. When the lifts are in position on the seats but, while still under control of the fingers 42 and 43, the studs 52 pass the cams 54- and allow the fingersbl to close gently upon the lifts, thus holding them securely to the transferrers. Afterthis occurs, the lifts are carried forwardly first out of control of the fingers 43 and then out of control of the fingers 4-2.

As the transferrers rotate, the lifts are brought down to a position about at the level of the shaft 27, whereupon the daubers 87 are brought into engagement with the lifts close to their leading or back ends, so that the glue which is running in suitable streams from the stop cocks 95 onto the daubers will be directed against the lifts. The tension of the springs 90 holds the daubers against the lifts with sufficient pressure to ensure intimate contact of the glue with the lifts and to avoid a film of air between the glue and lifts. The glue used is preferably quite thick and slow-flowing, so that in spite of the pressure of the daubers a layer of appreciable thickness will be deposited on the lifts, but by adjusting the daubers thin glue may be used. The glue running down the daubers and prevented from escape by the lifts will pile up to a limited extent between the daubers and lifts. Before the lifts have moved down sufficient-- ly to bring either the daubers or the accumulation of glue at their lower ends to the level of the upper or breast edges of the lifts, the daubers are moved away from the lifts and any surplus of glue on the daubers drops off into the trough 96. Owing to the heavy glue used, a certain amount of the accumulation adheres to the lifts near the upper or breast edges and tends to run slowly back over the wetted portions of the lift surfaces. .As the lifts move onward from the daubers 87 they are moved more and more toward a horizontal inverted position, so that the flow of glue on their surface becomes increasingly slow and with glue of proper consistency there is no danger of the glue running off. The operation of the daubers S7 in moving into and out of engagement with the lifts at proper time is controlled by the cam 89 rotating along with the transferrcrs. Each notch 91 of the cam lets the tracker arm 88 oscillate under influence of the spring 90 to rotate the shaft 86 and shift the daubers into engagement'with lifts. The circumferential length of the notches controls the duration of dauber engagement. Before reaching the discharge point, the lifts engage the series of wipers 98 at the back of the glue trough and these wipers scrape or wipe off surplus glue. The pressure of the wipers 98 against the lifts is comparatively light. so that a good thick film of glue will be left on each lift and only the actual surplus removed. This gluing device is unique in that the glue is first virtually rubbed into the lift by movement in one direction and a surplus of glue then left to distribute itself over the wetted surface by flow in the opposite direction to the rubbing action. Finally, any surplus of glue is lightly wiped back and thus distributed over the surface. In the first wiping action, intimate contact of the glue and lift is ensured and the glue is to an extent pressed into the pores ofthc lift, so as to obtain a very geod grip of the lift. The surplus of glue allowed to run back provides glue to replace that which is absorbed by the lift and, finally, the remainmg surplus is wiped back to ensure an even distribution. Immediately the lifts leave the wipers 98 they are in position, glue side down, over the conveyor. As the lifts come to this position, the studs 52 of the fingers holding them are pressed outwardly by the cams 61, so that the finger disengage the lifts and leave them free to drop onto the conveyor, glued side down. Owing to this deposit glued side down the gluing arrangements of the left hand magazine are usually rendered inoperative to avoid lifts adhering to the conveyor and also to avoid accumulations of glue on the conveyor. 'lhe position of the cams 61 is such that the lifts are released by the fingers 51 as soon as possible after they (the lifts) disengage the wipers 98. In this way the glue is quite fresh and liquid and free from any film or scum on its surface representing a partial hardening. This is important ,as the glue used in this work dries very quickly. In order to ensure fiatwise movement of the lifts from the transferrers to the conveyor, the shedder fingers 64 press downwardly by gravity on the lifts when releases by the cam (38 and follow the lifts down to the conveyor. Theshedder fingers are of suff cient width and weight to follow the lifts, in falling, and to prevent the lifts turning edgewise, even if any lift should drag a little on one of the fingers 51 holding it. The shedders may have the further advantage of pressi'i'ig the lifts down with appreciable force upon previously deposited lifts on the conveyor, so that the glue is squeezed out to approximately the edges and brought into intimate contact with the lower lifts. This arrangement precludes the possibility of the glue stiffening in a thick layer in the central parts of lifts and leaving the edges not only disconnected but spaced apart. It will be understood, however, that the shedder fingers 64 do not dwell upon the lift piles but, after placing the lifts, are immediate- Iy raised by the dogs 66 on the shaft 63 which rotates under influence of'the cam (38. This is necessary, not to prevent the lift piles being displaced on the conveyor, but, to return the shedder fingers into position to strip the nexts'eries of lifts fr'o'm the transferrers. As previously stated, the glue is supplied to the stop cocks 95 by a pump drawin from a suitable reservoir and also the surplus glue from the trough 96 is returned to the reservoir. The troughmay be the reservoir, but preferably the reservoir contains a larger body of glue than will be accommodated in the trough, so that thickening of the glue by exposure to air on the daubers, wipers and lifts and in the trough, will be compensated for by returning the thickened glue into a larger body of glue of proper consistency. The pump forms an excellent mixiiig device to ensure uniform consistency of the glue supplied to the wipers.

Preferably, the several transferrers are arranged with the lift seats thereof in alignment parallel with the shaft 27. The differentsizcs of lifts necessary to build up complete heels are stored in the several magazines, each size in a separate magazine, or group of magazines, and arranged in the order in which they appear in the finished heel. Each time a row of lift seats under the magazine gates, a series of lifts sufficient to build a complete heel is removed from the i'naguzines. As the ransferrers continue to rotate, succeeding series of lifts are removed and the several series are successively carried through the gluing meant.- anism to the conveyor. The surface speeds of the transferrers and conveyor are so synchronized that the conveyor moves exactly the centre to centre. distance of adjacent magazines or transferrers during the movement of the transferrers to extract from the magazines or to deposit on the conveyor one complete series of lifts. This means that after a series of lifts is deposited on the conveyor, the whole series is moved the centre to centre distance of adjacent lifts thereof before the next deposit occurs, so that the lifts of the first deposit will be positioned to receive upon themselves: the lifts of the second deposit. Thus, a lift from No. 1 magazine is moved to receive upon it in a second deposit a lift from l lo. 2 magazine and the two-lift. pile thus formed is then moved to receive upon it in the third deposit a lift from No. 8 magazine. In this way, the lifts are arranged in orderly piles upon the conveyor, each pile eventually containing one lift from each of the magazines in operation. It will be seen that at each depositing operation all stages of heel con struction or building) are performed and that one heel is completed. The machine illustrated has on each of its transferrers ten lift seats, so that for each revolution of the 'tran'sferrers ten complete heels will be built. It will thus be apparent that at a very mocel'ate speed the output of heelsper *hour Will be large. It will be'understood, however, that the invention, as regards the transference of lifts from magazines to conveyor, is not limited to the simultaneous removal oflifts from all magazines of a series, nor to the simultaneous deposit of all lifts of a series on the conveyor, although such is the case in the illustrated embodiment. It will also :be understood that the transferring device illustrated is not confined to heel building machines nor to intis mate co-operat-ion with magazinesor with a conveyor but may be associated with other elements.

When each heel pile has been completed, it is moved by the conveyor away from the last transferrer and into register with the justifying device. The cam 84- at the appro tiriate moment releases the slide 75, which driven forwardby its spring 85 and carries the plates 78 toward the aligned heel pile. These plates are held by their springs 82 in the position shown in Figure 6, so that the adjacent flanges SO'thereof first engage the heelpileand drive the same forwardly and smartly against the breast plate34, so that the breast edges of the various lifts are brought substantially into the same plane. Contact of the flanges 80 with the heel pile arrests the movement of the inner ends of the plates, so that with continued movement of the slide the flanges 80 form pivots about which the plates swing to the positions shown in -Figure 7. In these latter positions the flanges 81 engage the sides of the heel pile at diametrically opposite points and straighten up any lateral displacement of the lifts, while at the same time the flanges 80 hold the lifts tight against the breast plate 34;. At the moment that the justification of the lifts is complete and perfect, the nailer 73 is operated to drive a nail down through the lifts to secure the same permanently (together. The conveyor itself may serve as an anvil upon which to clinch the nail and, with this in view, the links of the chain can be strongly constructed. As soon as the nailing is complete, the cam 84 retracts the slide 75, thus disengaging the justifying device from the heel. Eventhough the lineal speed of the conveyor is very low and the operation of the justifier and nailer very rapid, there is nevertheless a momentary halting of each heel pile. During this halting, the conveyor merely moves under the heel pile, which it is free to do as there is nothing to hold the piles to the conveyor. A-fter justifying and nailing, the heels will therefore be slightly out of centre with respect to the conveyor links, but this is immaterial as there is no further operation to be performed on them while on the conveyor.

The operation of the alternative form of transferrer illustrated in Figure 10 is so similar to that already described as scarcely to need explanation. The unfianged beveled leading edge of each box 102 passes under the magazine and under the bottom lift therein, the fingers 42 and as meanwhile restraining movement of the lift so that, relatively speaking, the lift forces its way between the springs 106 which correspond to the springs 51 of the other form. Finally, the end flange of the box corresponding to the teeth 50 engages the lift and draws it out of the gate. \Vhen the box is inverted in passing around the sprocket 107, the springs 106 hold the lift against falling out of the box and also hold it against being moved out of the box by reason of the operation of a gluing device. The shedder fingers 64 in this form normally press against the belt 101 and slip between the lift and the bottom of the box. At proper intervals, the fingers are depressed to place the lifts on. the conveyor and then ascend to engage the next lift.

As previously stated the transferrers and magazine gates are preferably all the same size in any machine and are designed to handle any size of lift within the capacity of the machine. Thus, when changing from one size or shape of heel to another all that is necessary is to change magazines and to change the forming plates of the justifier and to regulate the flow of glue and the number of daubers in operation to accord with the number of lifts in the heels to be built. These adjustments are extremely simple matters and may be effected in a few minutes. The shape of the magazines and the feature of swinging lifts through an arc during their passage through the gates enables the machine to handle wedge lifts as easily as plain lifts. The lift handling mechanism is so proportioned, formed and arranged that it will handle lifts gently and yet hold them securely and accurately, thus making gouge or warped lifts no obstacle to successful operation. It will be noted that all lift handling members are yieldable or yieldably mounted so that they will adjust themselves to different sizes of lifts or to lifts under or over gauge. The operation of the justifier is simple, duplicating the natural operation of the human hand in justifying and by the nature of its construction requires a negligible amount of power for its operation. It is moreover, sure in its action and unable to damage a lift pile, as frequently occurs when lift piles are rammed into a die for the purpose of forming. The machine is simple in construction and all parts are readily accessible for observation, cleaning or adjustment. The gluing arrangement is such that practically no glue escapes to the moving parts of the machine and therefore but little cleaning is required. This is of course a feature dependent on the type of gluing mechanism illustrated and might not obtain to the same extent with another gluing device. It will be understood that the invention as it concerns lift handling and building is not in any way limited to the particular method of gluing or construction of gluing device disclosed.

It is preferred to so'construct the machine that the transferrers and conveyor operate continuously and at a uniform rate but this may be departed from if desired and the invention is therefore not limited to continuous movement or uniform speed of these elements. Neither must the invention be considered as limited to the illustrated detail construction and relative dispositions of the conveyor, transferrers or magazines as such may also be altered if desired and other dispositions of individual elements or other relative dispositions or groupings of the elements may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the nature of the embodiment illus trated it will be observed that both the conveyor and the transferre-rs are non-reciprocating or unidirectional in their operation and this is regarded, especially in connection with the transferrers, as a salient feature of Ice the invention and onewhichenables smooth operation and largeoutputto be obtained froma machine with smallexpenditure-of power.

The expression complete heel or similar expression used' hereinbefore andinthe fol-- lowing claims is to be construed asmeaning the complete heel blank 'whichit is desired to build and does not necessarily confine to actually complete heels but includes heel blanks of which two or more are combined to form a high heel, andalso blanks'to which a top lift is added infinishing.

raving thus described my'invention,what I claim is;

1. "In a heel'building machine, the combination with lift supplying means-and a continuously moving conveyor of continuously moving unidirectionalmeans provided with lift gripping means for transferring lifts from saidsupply meanstosaidcou vcyer to build up heels thereon.

2.- In a heel building machine, the comaination with lift supplying meansand a,

i-ontinuously moving conveyor of continu- Jusly moving unidirectional means provided with lift gripping means for transferring successiveserios of lifts to said conveyerto nuild up heels thereon.

- 3. 111 a heel building machine, the comaination with lift supplying means-and a :ontinuously movingconveyor of continuously moving a series of unidirectional means,:-each provided with 'lift gripping meansand operating in unison-f-ortrans ferring-successive series of lifts to said conveyorto build up heels thereon.

i. In a. heel building machine,'- the combination with "lift supplying means and a :ontinuously anoving conveyor of a series ifunidirect-ion'al means, each provided with ift gripping means and all-operating in unison for transferring successive'series "of lifts to said conveyor to build up heels thereon.

5. In a heel building machine, the comaination with a continuously moving "conveyor of a plurality of units for delivering successive series of' lifts to said conveyor to Juild rip-heels thereon, each unit comprising a liftsupplying means and a un-id'irectional lift transferring means provided with lift gripping means.

(3. In a heel building machine, the comainat-ion with a continuously moving conveyor of a plurality of units for delivering successive series of lifts to said conveyor to build up heels thereon, each unit c unprising a lift supplying means and a unidirectional lift transferring means provided witli'a plurality of lift gripping means.

-7. In a heel building machine, the com. bination with a plurality of lift supplying magazines and a continuously moving conveyor of a pluralityof units operating in unison for transferring successive series of lifts' from said magazine to said onveyor to builduphee ls'thereon', each unit being provided with a plurality of lift gripping means. a V

8;] In; a heel building machine, the combin'ation with a series of lift supplying means arranged in a'row and a continuously moving conveyor movable in" a path parallel to said rowcf a series "of continuously moving unidirectional (lift transferring means operating in unis'on,each of said names tioned means being provided with means for withdrawing lifts from one ofsaid series of lift supplying means and dischargr ing thesame upon said conveyor.

.-9.In'-a heel building machine, -the "combination with a series of lift supplying means arranged 111 a row and a continuously moving conveyor continuously movable in a path parallel to said'row of a'seriesof eontinuously moving unidirectional lift trans ferring means correspondmg in' numb'erjto the number of lift supplying means, each of'saidlift transferring means being pr ovided with means for "withdrawing lifts from one'of said lift supplying means and discharging the same upon said conveyor.

10. i In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, continuously moving unidirectional means for extractin.g "lifts from the supplying means and discharging thelifts ina? row, and continuou's'ly "operating means formovin'g the row of -dischargedlifts through the centre to centre distance 'of"adjacent lifts of the row after-each discharging operationj 1 1."In' a"heel"building machine, the combiii'ation with a series of lift "supplying means arranged in a row and a col'ive'yor mo'vable'in a path parallel to 'saicfrowof a plurality of unidirectional lift transferring meanseq'ual in number to/the number of said li'ft" supplying means for transferring successive series of'lifts from said" supplying'n'ieans'to said conveyor to build up heels thereon, each of said unitsbeing provided witha plurality of means for withdrawing a succession of lifts from'o-ne of said lift supplying means and discharging the same in succession upon'said conveyor.

12.111 a heel building machine, the combination with lift supplying means and a conveyor of ase'ries of'unidirectional lift transferring means to withdraw successive series of lifts from the supplying means and to discharge the same upon the' said conveyor in rows, the discharging operations being'so synchronized'to the movement of the said conveyor that each discharging operation a lift is discharged from each transferring means upon the lift of the last previous series discharged from the adjacent transferring means. v

13. In alie'el building machine, the combination with lift supplying means and a continuously moving conveyor of a series of continuously moving unidirectional lift transferring means to Withdraw successive series of lifts from the supplying means and to discharge the same upon the said conveyor in rows, the discharging operations being so synchronized to the movement of the said conveyor that at each discharging operation a lift is discharged from each transferring means upon the lift of the last previous series discharged from the adjacent transferring means.

14;. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, yield ng lift gripping means on the transferring means, and means co-operative with the yielding means to move the same to receive and discharge lifts, and means operative to deposit released lifts on the receiving means.

15. In a heel building machine, the combination With a continuously moving conveyor of a series of units, each comprising a magazine for supplying lifts and a unidirectional skeleton Wheel for Withdrawin lifts in succession from said magazine and discharging the same on said conveyor.

16. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, rotatable means to transfer lifts from the supplying means to the receiving means, lift gripping means on the rotatable means, means to disengage the gripping means from lifts and means engageable with lifts prior to such disengagement to separate lifts from the gripping means and control the movement thereof to the receiving means. Y

17. In a heel building machine the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a series of unidirectional lift supporting devices and ,a plurality of projections from each of said devices to impart movement to lifts, and yieldable means to hold lifts to the supporting devices, and means for each supporting device to disengage lifts from the holding means thereof.

18. In a heel building machine the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a rotatable device presenting a pair of spaced peripheral surfaces adapted to support lifts, and means projecting from said peripheral surfaces to impart movement of the transferring means to lifts, and yieldable means carried by the rotatable device to engage and hold lifts thereon.

19. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a rotatable device presenting a pair of spaced peripheral surfaces adapted to support lifts, and means projecting from said peripheral surfaces to impart movement of the transferring means to lifts, and yieldable means carried by the rotatable device to engage and hold lifts thereon, and means to disengage lifts from the yieldable holding means.

20. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a rotatable device presenting a pair of spaced peripheral surfaces adapted to support lifts, and means projecting from said peripheral surfaces to impart movement of the transferring means to lifts, and yieldable means carried by the rotatable device to engage and hold lifts thereon, means to operate the yieldable means to engage and disengage lifts, and means to strip lifts from the yieldable holding means and rotatable device and deposit the lifts on the receiving means.

21. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a pair of spaced circular members, lift transporting teeth projecting from the peripheries thereof, and yieldable means carried by the members to engage and hold lifts to the peripheries of the members.

22. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means com prising a pair of spaced circular members, lift transporting teeth projecting from the peripheries thereof, yieldable members ar ranged in pairs carried by the circular members, each yieldable member pair being adapted to grip and hold a lift, and means to separate said yieldable members to receive between them or release lifts.

23. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a pair of spaced rotatable discs adapted to support lifts on their peripheries, yieldable members arranged in pairs carried by said discs, the members of each pair being mounted one on each disc and adapted to hold between them a lift, and cams at the loading and discharge'points of the transferring means to move the yieldable members apart to receive or release lifts.

24. In a heel building machine, the con bination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a pair of spaced rotatable discs adapted to support lifts on their peripheries, yieldable members arranged in pairs carried by said discs, the members of each pair being mounted one on each disc and adapted to hold between them a lift, and cams at the loading and discharge points of the transferring means to move the yieldable members apart to receive or release lifts, and means to impart disc movement to the lifts.

25. in a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a continuously moving circular rotative member having flattened portions in the periphery thereof to form lift seats, a projection at the rear end of each flattened portion for withdrawing a lift from the supplying means and means for holding said lift in position on said flattened portion.

26. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiv ing means and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a continuously moving rotatable member, removable teeth carried therebyto withdraw lifts from said lift supplying means and means for holding said lifts in position on said rotatable member.

27. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a pair of spaced discs, spring fingers carried by the remote faces of the discs, studs projecting from said fingers through the discs, and cams between the discs positioned to engage said studs and effect separation of corresponding fingers of the two discs.

28. In a heel building machine, the combin ation of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a series of rotative members having peripherally disposed lift seats, lift driving projections intermediate the seats, lift holding members carried by the rotative members, cams positioned to operatively engage said holding members to receive, grip and release lifts, means to strip lifts from the rotative members and deposit the liftson the receiving means and operating means for said rotative members and stripping means. v

29, In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, and means to disengage lifts from the transferring means and deposit the same on the receiving means comprising an oscillatal'i-le finger, and means to alternately position said finger for on}; gcn'ient with the back face of a lift and to, release the finger for the depositing operation.

30. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means including pairs of spaced; lift seats, means to releasably hold lifts to said seats and means to disengage. the holding means, with means to strip lifts from the transferring means and deposit the same on the receiving means comprising an actuated finger, and means to position said finger between the lift seats on the opposite side of lifts from the receiving means and tohold the finger inoperative and to release the finger for operation upon each disengaging operation of the lift holding means.

31. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, means to transfer lifts from the supplying means to the receiving means comprising a series of rotative elements each including pairs of spaced lift seats, means to releasably hold lifts to the seats, means for operating said holding means to receive and grip lifts, and means for operating said holding means to disenlifts With means to strip lifts from the transferring means and deposit same on the receiving means comprising an actuated finger for each rotative element, means to positionsaid fingers between the spaced lift seats and to hold the fingers inoperative and out of engagement with lifts and to release the fingers for operation upon the disengaging operations of the corresponding lift holding means and driving and synchronizing means for said lift transferring andholding and finger operating means.

32. In a heel building machine, a source of lift supply, a continuously moving lift transferring means to take lifts from said source, and means on said lift supply source to position lifts in transit from the source to the transferring means comprising a frame through which lifts pass, and means carried thereby to position lifts flatwise and edgewise relatively to the transferring means.

33. In a heel building machine, a source of lift supply, a lift transferring means including means to grip a lift and hold same to the transferring means, and means for positioning lifts on the transferring means comprising a frame having a lift outlet, yieldable means to hold a lift fiatwise against the transferring means until gripped bythe holding means, and yieldable means to position a lift edgewise relative to the transferring means prior to engagement of the lift by the holding means.

34. In a heel building machine, an open frame into which lifts may pass, and a lift transferring means disposed to continually hold lifts against movement flatwise out of said fume and adapted to pass lifts edgewise from the frame.

35. In a heel building machine, an open frame, a lift transferring means disposed to engage a lift flatwise while in said frame and adapted to pass lifts edgewise from the frame, means to hold a lift flatwise against the transferring means during passage from the frame and lift holding means on the transferring means to engage lifts while yet under control of said first mentioned holding means.

36. In a heel building machine, an open frame having a lift outlet, and a lift transferring means forming a bottom for said frame and adapted to eject lifts edgewise from the frame through said outlet, yieldable means to hold a lift flatwise against the transferring means during ejection, and yieldable means to position a lift edgewise during ejection.

37. In a heel building machine, a continuously moving lift transferring device, means to present lifts flatwise relatively to the transferring device, means to urge lifts against the transferring device and yielding gripping means to position a lift transversely of the direction of transferring movement and during such movement.

38. In a heel building machine, a frame to hold lifts liatwise having a lift outlet, a transferring means having pairs of spaced lift seats and lift gripping means and adapted to take lifts edgewise from said frame outlet, and a yieldable finger adapted to engage a lift outside the frame and between the seats of the transferring means and to urge the lift against the seats.

39. In a heel building machine, a frame to hold lifts flatwise having a lift outlet, a transferring means including a pair of spaced projections to eject a lift through the frame outlet, and means positioned midway of the space between said projections to engage a lift during ejection and press the lift equally against each projection, and means to move a lift edgewise to centre the same relatively to said projections and pressing means, and gripping means on the transferring means to hold a lift to the transferring means and in centered position.

40. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, continuously moving lift receiving means, means for transporting lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, means for applying adhesive to said lifts and means for scraping off the surplus adhesive so applied.

41. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, continuously moving lift receiving means, means for transporting lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, means for applying adhesive to said lifts and means for scraping off means, with means to apply adhesive to lifts during transfer and means to move said applying means into and out of engagement with each lift, and means to spread adhesivt on lifts and to remove surplus adhesive from lifts.

43. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, and a series of means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, with means to apply adhesive to lifts on each transferring means, a reservoir for adhesive and a pump and conduit to supply adhesive from said reservoir to all applying means, means to remove surplus adhesive from lifts on the transferring means, and means to return the surplus to the reservoir.

44. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving. means and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means with a dauber adapted to bear against a lift, means to move the dauber into and out of engagement with a lift on the transferring means, and adjustable means to supply adhesive to the dauber.

45. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means with an inclined dauber adapted to hear at its lower end against a lift, means to move the dauber into and out of engagement with a lift on the transferring means, and adjustable means to supply adhesive to the dauber, a trough beneath the dauber and a yieldable wiper adapted to be engaged by a lift on the transferring means and to scrape surplus adhesive from the lift into the trough.

46. In a heel building machine, the combination with lift supplying means, a continuously moving lift receiving means and means for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said receiving means of means movable into and out of engagement with lift-piles on the said receiving means for justifying said piles for the nailing operation.

47. In a heel building machine, a continuously moving conveyor, means for building piles of heel lifts thereon and means for engaging said lift-piles during the movement of the conveyor for justifying the lifts in each pile preparatory for the nailing operation.

48. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, means to deliver successive series of lifts in rows, and continuously moving lift receiving means to move lift rows the centre to centre distance of adjacent lifts of a row after each delivering operation, whereby lifts are arranged in piles, with means to justify the lifts of Pach pile, the receiving means and justifying means being relatively movable to effect lift engagement with the ustifying means.

l9. In a heel building machine, the combination of co-operating means to arrange lifts in piles and transport the piles successively to a justifying point, with justifying means movable into and out of engagement with the lift piles to move and temporarily hold the lifts in predetermined relation during and independently of movement of the transporting means, and means to nail lifts together while held by the justifying means. 50. In a heel building machine, co-operating means, including breast plates, to a-rrange lifts in piles with the breast edges of lifts adjacent the breast plates, and j ustifying means movable into engagement with lift piles to drive the breast edges thereof against the breast plates, and subsequently to move individual lifts of the piles substantlally parallel with their breast edges.

51. In a heel building machine, means to convey a lift pile, a breast plate, means to drive a lift pile breast edge first against the breast plate, whereby several lifts of the pile are aligned in one direction, and means to subsequently align the lifts in a direction transverse to the first.

52. In a heel building machine, means to convey lift piles to a justifying point, and means movable into engagement with lifts on said conveying means to align the lifts of each pile successively in two directions.

53. In a heel building machine, means to convey lift piles to. a justifying point, and means movable into engagement with lifts on said conveying means to align the lifts of each pile successively in two directions, and to momentarily hold the 'lifts in the completed alignment, and means to nail lifts together while so held. I

54. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift conveying means including breast plates, means to transfer lifts from the supplying means to the conveying means and discharge the lifts with their breast, edges adjacent the breast plates, and means movable laterally of the conveying means into engagement with lifts thereon to drive the breast edges of lifts against the breast plates and align the lifts in one direction, and means carried by said first aligning means to subsequently engage the side edges of lifts and align the lifts in a direction transverse to the first alignment direction.

55, In a heel. building machine,- means to assemble lifts "in piles and to convey the piles to a justifying point, a stop the breast edges of lifts, a slide movable toward said stop, and means yieldably mounted on said slide to press lifts against the stop and to swing around and engage oppo'site sides of lifts between the first engagement point and the stop. I i

'56. In a heel building machine, means to assemble lifts in pil'es and to convey the piles to a justifying point, a stop for the breast edges of lifts, a slide movable toward said stop, a pair of fingers pivoted intermediate theirends on said slide, flanges on the ends of said fingers shaped in conformity with a heel to be built, springs normally holding said fingers separated to receive between them a heel pile, and with the flanges of adjacent ends positioned to engage the back edges of lifts, and means to move the slidetoward the stop and bring the flanges of adjacent finger ends into arresting engagement with lifts against the stop, whereby the fingerswill swing around and embrace the lifts.

57. In a heel building nachine, means to assemble lifts in piles including a conveyor, breast plates on the conveyor and means to hold the conveyor against movement by pressure on the breast plates, and means movable "toward the breast plates, ,to engage lift piles and press the breast edges thereof against the breast plates. I

58. In a heel building machine, aframe, a transferrer shaft and a conveyor operatively connected, a source of lift supply, means mounted on thetransferrer shaft to transfer lifts from the source to the conveyor, and to co-operate with the conveyor to assemble the lifts in piles on the conveyor, a gluing device and means carried by the trai'is'ferrer shaft to move the gluing device into and out of operative relation with lifts on the transfer'rer.

59. In a heel building machine, a frame, a transferre'r shaft and a conveyor operatively connected, a source of lift supply, means mounted on the transferrer shaft to trans fer lifts from the source to the conveyor, and to cooperate with the conveyor to assemble the lifts in piles on the conveyor, and means operatively connected with the transferrer shaft to strip lifts from the trans ferring means and deposit the lifts on the conveyor.

60. In a heel building machine, a frame, a transferrer shaft and a conveyor operatively connected, a source of lift supply, means mounted onthe transferrer shaft to transfer lifts from the sourceto the conveyor, and to cooperate, with the conveyor to assemble the lifts in piles on the conveyor, means movable to and from the conveyor to justify lift piles thereon, and a "cam open atively connected with the transferrer shaft to move said justifying means.

t l.[n a heel building machine, a frame, a transferrer shaft and a conveyor operatively connected, said conveyor including breast plates, a source of lift supply, means mounted on the transferrer shaft to transfer lifts from the source to the conveyor and to co-operate with the conveyor to assemble the lifts in piles on the conveyor, means operatively connected with the transferrer shaft to strip lifts from the transferring means and deposit same'on the conveyor with their breast edges substantially against the breast plates, justifying means to press lifts against the breast plates, and means oDeratively connected with the transferrer shaft controlling the operation of said justifying means.

62. In a heel building machine, a frame, a. main shaft, a transferrer shaft, a timing shaft and a conveyor all operatively connected with the main shaft, a source of lift supply, means on the transferrer shaft to transfer lifts from the source to the conveyor and co-operating therewith to assemble the lifts in piles on the conveyor, a gluing device including daubers movable into and out of engagement with lifts on the transferring means, means on the transferrer shaft controlling dauber movement, means controlled by the timing shaft to strip lifts from the transferring means and deposit same on the conveyor, and means controlled by the timing shaft to justify lifts on the conveyor.

63. In combination with a device accord ing to claim 62, a nailing machine, and controlling means therefor operated by the timing shaft.

64. In a heel building machine, a frame tapering internally from top to bottom, a trough having the end of its bottom inclined to lie against one of the tapering walls of said frame, extensions from the sides of said trough inclined at their ends to lie against the other tapering wall, whereby the trough wedges into predetermined position in one direction in the frame, a transferring member forming the bottom of said frame and a closure for the trough end and adapted to remove lifts singly therefrom.

65. In a heel building machine according to claim 64, lateral projections from the sides of the trough engageable with the retom defining-an arcuate path for lifts pass ing from the magazine to the gate, means to remove lifts singly from the gate and forming a bottom for the gate.

67. In a heel building machine, the com bination of lift supplying means, lift rcceiving means and unidirectional means to transport lifts from the supplying means to the receiving means, with means to apply adhesive to lifts and means to remove surplus adhesive from lifts during transportation.

68. Ina heel building machine, the com bination of lift supplying means, lift receiv ing means, and means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means comprising a unidirectional lift supporting device, a projection therefrom to impart movement to a lift, a pair of spring fingers carried by the unidirectional device adjacent its projection to engage and hold a lift to the unidirectional device, and means to disengage a lift from said fingers and projection.

69. In a heel building machine, the combination with amovable receiver, of means to supply successive series of lifts in rows to the receiver comprising a series of unidirectional elements continuously moving during operation of the machine and provided with lift gripping means.

70. In a heel building machine, the combination With a receiver moving continuously during the operation of the machine, of means to supply successive series of lifts in rows to the receiver comprising a series of unidirectional elements and provided with lift gripping means.

71. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, unidirectional means for withdrawing lifts from the supplying means and discharging said lifts on the receiving means and means on the unidirectional means automatically operative to grip and release lifts.

72. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift re ceiving means, means to transfer lifts from the supplying to the receiving means, yielding lift gripping means on said transferring means and. means co-operative with said yielding means to operate the same to receive and discharge lifts.

73. In a heel building machine, means to supply successive series of lifts in rows comprising a seriesof unidirectional elements provided with lift gripping means continuously moving during operation of the machine and equal, in number to the number of lifts in the series, and a lift receiver movable after each supplying operation the centre to centre distance of adjacent lifts of the series.

74:. In a heel building machine, means to supply successive series of lifts in rows com prising a series of unidirectional elements provided with lift gripping means continuously moving during operation of the machine, and equal in number to the number of lifts in the series, and a lift receiver continuously moving during operation of the machine the rate of movement being such that the receiver advances between each supplying operation and the next the centre to centre distance of adjacent lifts of the series.

75. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means, lift receiving means, continuously rotating means for transferring lifts from the supplying means to the receiving means, lift gripping means on said rotating means and means for operating said lift gripping means auto matically to grip and release lifts.

76. In a heel building machine, the combination with lift supplying means and a continuously moving conveyor of a plurality of units for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said conveyer, said transferring units being provided with a plurality of lift gripping devices whereby there is at all times a plurality of successive lifts in transit between said supplying means and said conveyer.

77. In a heel building machine, the combination with a series of lift supplying means and a continuously moving conveyor of a plurality of units for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said. conveyor to build up heels thereon, each of said transferring units being provided with a plurality of lift gripping devices whereby there is at all times on each transferring unit a plurality of successive lifts in transit between said supplying means and said conveyor.

78. In a heel building machine, the combination with lift supplying means and a conveyer of means for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said conveyer and means including a dauber element for applying adhesive to said lifts during transit and while they are in an approximately vertical position.

79. In a heel building machine, the com bination of lift supplying means and a conveyer, of means for transferring lifts from said suppl ing means to said conveyor, means including a dauber element for applying adhesive to said lifts dur ing transit and while they are in an approximately vertical position and a trough arranged under said adhesive applying means for catching the surplus adhesive.

80. In a heel building machine, the combination of lift supplying means and a conveyer, of means for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said conveyer, means including a dauber elementfor applying adhesive to said lifts during transit and while they are in an approximately yerrtical position, means for removing the surplus adhesive from said lifts and a receptacle arranged beneath said last two mentioned means to catch the surplus adhesive.

81. In a heel building machine, the combination with a series of lift supplying means, a conveyor and a plurality of units for transferring lifts from said supplying means to said conveyer, of a plurality of adhesive applying units equal in number to the number of transferring units, each of said adhesive applying units being adapted to be thrown in and out of operation at the will of the operator.

82. In a heel building machine, the combination with lift supplying means and a continuously moving conveyer of continuously moving means for transferring lift-s from said supplying means to said conveyer; said transferring means being provided with a plurality f lift holding de' vices sufficiently close together so that there is at all times a plurality of successive lifts in transit between said supplying means and said conveyer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LESLIE A. I-IOLhIAN. 

